Subliming chamber



March 25, 1947.

w. 'r. BADHAM S'UBLIMING CHAMBER Filed Dec. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

VATTORN Y SUBLIMING CHAMBER Filed Dec. 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MAL/4M T BAD/MM BYwzwr ATTORN Y Patented Mar. 25, 1941 ITED STATES ATEN ()FFICE This invention relates to a subliming chamber and has for its object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall have an increased capacity over prior art apparatus, shall be simple and economical of construction, continuous in operation, and which sh all provide means for insuring a free circulation of air through the chamber.

A further object of my invention is to provide a subliming chamber which shall operate at a reduced back pressure, as compared with prior art apparatus, and which shall include a pervious floor and ceiling in addition to the usual fabric breather walls.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a subliming chamber which shall be suitable particularly for subliming naphthalene in which, as the naphthalene crystallizes, the lighter impurities thrown out by crystallization pass out through the pervious walls and ceiling.

In subliming apparatus, as heretofore known to me, particularly in apparatus employed in subliming naphthalene, it has been the custom to provide a relatively large subliming chamber of wood construction, with solid wooden floor and ceiling, and with some pervious breather walls constructed of some suitable fabric such as brattice cloth. Naphthalene vapors are admitted into one end of such a chamber to cool and crystallize. When the chamber has filled sufficiently, the vapors are no longer admitted, and after the chamber is clear of vapors, workmen enter with shovels and remove the naphthalene. I have discovered that the capacity of such a chamber may be materially increased by making all walls, floor and ceiling of pervious material and by providing for the free circulation of air under and through the floor. In addition, the floor is elevated and means are provided. for intermittently removing naphthalene from the chamber without shutting down, thus transforming the process from a batch to a continuous operation.

In my previously filed application, Serial No. 554,524, filed September 16, 1944, there is shown, described and claimed a subliming apparatus embodying a subliming chamber having a raised inclined floor constructed of a single thickness of sheet metal to efiect a rapid heat transfer between the vapors and the outside atmosphere through the metal floor. Means were also provided for intermittently removing the material from the chamber to insure continuous operation. While the apparatus disclosed in my prior application aforesaid has proved satisfactory in operation, I have found that the rate of sublimation 6 Claims. (01. 23-264) can be materially increased, and larger and purer crystals be obtained, with a cheaper, lighter construction.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the subliming chamber with the outer frame work and roof removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view with parts broken away showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view with parts broken away of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of several of the doors employed with the apparatus shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show in Figs. 1 to 3 a subliming chamber having sills H1 mounted on suitable elevated foundation members H providing free access of air beneath the chamber. Vertical frame members I 2 are joined to the sills i0 and extend upwardly to be joined together at the top by transverse frame members I3. The floor is constructed of upwardly inclined joists l4 and I6 meeting in a ridge at the center and supported by vertical frame members ll. The walls of the chamber are formed by a covering 1 8 which is previous to air but impervious to naphthalene, and which is applied to the vertical frame members. The Ceiling is likewise formed from a similar perv ous material 19 attached to the upper transverse frame members 13. The floor joists l4 and !6 are joined by relatively widely spaced longitudinally extending slats 2! to which is secured a reticulated backing 22 which may conveniently be made of what is commonly termed as hardware cloth of /z inch mesh or larger, or from any other suitable material. The pervious fabric covering 23 is applied over the reticulated backing, the latter forming a reinforcing means for the fabric. As will be seen from the drawings, the floor thus constructed, being elevated to provide for the free circulation of air beneath it, air may pass freely beneath and through the pervious floor.

At one end of the chamber is provided a vaporizing tank 24 for crude naphthalene, which is vaporized by means of a steam coil 26 disposed in this modification.

Substantially the width of the chamber. A conduit for the vapors from the vaporizing tank 24 to the subliming chamber provided by suitable frame work 28 covered with pervious fabric 29, which extends across the ends and sides of the vaporizing tank at the top and is joined to the frame work around the opening into the subliming chamber, In the sides of the subliming chamber, I provide a plurality of doors 3i and-32 giving access to the interior of the chamber and by means of which the crystallized material may be removed therefrom into any suitable receptacle such as the barrels 33 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and of the :drawings, I show a modified form of my invention, in which the subliming chamber, as in the previous modification, is provided with pervious fabric covered walls 34 and ceilings 35. In accordance with this modification, however, the floor is formed by a plurality of doors 36, hinged along one side to the side sill 3'! and doors 38 hinged i'along'the opposite sides to side sill 39. The doors are formed from suitable frame members 42 to which a reticulated backing material 43 is applied which supports a pervious fabric covering 4 3. See Fig. 6. The doors, when closed, as shown in Fig. 5 are in a horizontal position, and may be operated by means of cables 43 which are joined to the doors at their free ends and which may pass upwardly over pulleys 41 and thence downwardly to crank arms 48 by means of which the doors may be opened and closed. When the doors are let down to open position, as shown in Fig. 5, the sublimed material falls onto a belt conveyor t9 which removes the material from beneath the chamber. Inasmuch as there are a plurality of the doors 36 and 323, they may be opened one or more at a time without shutting the chamber down. I thus provide for continuous operation of the subliming chamber shown It will be seen from the drawing and the fore going description, that with both modifications of my invention shown, means are provided to afford free circulation of air beneath and through the floors of the chamber, and through the ceiling. It will also be seen that the vapors of the material are quickly cooled upon leaving the evaporating tank thus affording rapid sublimation of the material. Lighter impurities removed from the material by crystallization pass outwardly of the chamber through the pervious walls and ceiling 35, It will accordingly be apparent that I have provided an improved subliming chamber which is simple of construction, continuous in operation, and one in which the maximum yield of sublimed material may be obtained.

, While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a subliming chamber, pervious walls and ceiling, means to admit vapors to be sublimed into one end of the chamber, an elevated pervious bottom for the chamber, and supporting means for the bottom affording free circulation of air beneath it.

2. In a subliming chamber, pervious fabric walls and ceiling, means to admit vapors to be sublimed into oneend of the chamber, a pervious fabric bottom for the chamber, a reticulated means for the bottom disposed to afford free circulation of air beneath the bottom.

3. In a subliming chamber, pervious fabric breather walls and ceiling, an elevated pervious fabric inclined bottom down which sublimed material runs by gravity, a plurality of doors giving access to the chamber for the removal of material there-from, a reticulated backing for said fabric bottom, and supporting means for the bottom disposed to afford free circulation of air therebeneath and therethrough.

4. In apparatus of the character described, pervious fabric side and end walls forming a rectangular chamber, one of said walls having an elongated opening therein for the admission of vapors thereto, an evaporating tank disposed beneath the opening, pervious fabric walls forming apassage from the tank to the opening in the wall, a, pervious fabric bottom for the chamber, and supporting means for the bottom giving .free access of air therebeneath and therethrough.

5. In apparatus of the character described, pervious fabric side and end walls forming a rectangular chamber, one of said walls having an elongated opening therein for the admission of vapors thereto, an evaporating tank disposed beneath the opening, pervious fabric walls forming a passage from the tank to the opening in the wall, a pervious fabric bottom for the chamber, supporting means for the bottom giving free access of air therethrough, a plurality of hinged doors included in the bottom for the dumping of sublimed material therefrom, and conveyor means disposed to receive material from the doors and remove it.

6. In apparatus of the character described, pervious fabric side and end walls forming a rectangular chamber, one of said walls having an elongated opening therein for the admission of vapors thereto, an evaporating tank disposed b..- neath the opening, pervious fabric walls forming a passage from the tank to the opening in the wall, a pervious fabric ceiling and a pervious fabric bottom for the chamber, a reticulated metal backing for th bottom, a plurality of hinged downwardly opening doors included in the bottom for dumping sublimed material therefrom, and conveyor means disposed to receive material from the doors and remove it.

WILLIAM T. BADI-IAM. 

